Line-of-Duty Death (LODD)
The FireRescue1 line-of-duty death page provides ongoing coverage and resources related to firefighter deaths that occur while on duty. The page compiles breaking news, incident updates and memorial coverage honoring firefighters who died during emergency response, training or other job-related duties, while helping the fire service stay informed and reflect on lessons that may help prevent future tragedies.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation supports the families of firefighters who die in the line of duty through resources, programs and remembrance efforts that honor fallen fire heroes and help their loved ones rebuild their lives. Learn more about how to support firefighter families through the NFFF.
Newark city attorneys move to dismiss the $50M lawsuit from the Grande Costa d’Avorio fire that killed firefighters Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks Jr.
Milledgeville Fire Chief Leland Alexander had been injured in a crash in 2023
Fayetteville Fire Department Battalion Chief John Bowen, 35, died six months after being diagnosed with colon cancer
Jonathan French, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene; his mother, Lisa, a seven-year veteran, was airlifted to the hospital
Assistant Chief Jamie Middlebrook was trapped and killed after the roof of a business that was on fire partially collapsed
Chief Billy Glen Norris, Sr., 62, complained of pain in one of his shoulders while responding to a medical call
The family is claiming that neglectful techniques and procedures used by course organizers led to Capt. Neal Wade Smith’s death
The friendship began when the firefighters sent sympathies to the German family following the 2012 LODD
Stanley Wilson’s wife wants to explain to her sons how their father died and what caused him to be inside a building that collapsed and crushed him
The firefighter were called to investigate the gas leak; at least six fire trucks were flung into the rubble
Matthew David Goodnature, 21, lost his balance climbing over a rock before falling backward over a downed log and breaking his back
U.S. Court of Appeals: “Firefighters are public safety officers only if they are formally employed by a public agency”
The two young Labrador Retrievers, Jake and Rossi, will become service dogs for people with disabilities
He wants to raise money for safety equipment, helping those who lost spouses in the line of duty and burn victim research
The building’s owner, Ray Abou-Arab, is in jail on two counts of aggravated murder
Deborah Feairheller is conducting a study to come up with ways to fight line-of-duty related heart attacks
Investigators will examine to see if a mechanical failure caused firefighter Daniel Groover’s collapse
Richard Marchman, 67, collapsed one mile from the trailhead after rescuing an injured hiker
Lt. Gordon “Matt” Ambelas is the first FDNY firefighter to die in the line of duty in more than two years
Veteran Firefighter Daniel Groover, 46, was pulled from the 2-alarm fire by a rapid intervention crew
Chief Robert Glenn “Bud” Webster was driving the apparatus when it overturned, causing him to be ejected and pinned underneath the vehicle
Fourteen-year veteran Lt. Gordon Ambelas was honored last month for helping save a 7-year-old boy
Fourteen-year veteran Lt. Gordon Ambelas was honored last month for helping save a 7-year-old boy
Fire Chief Todd Rummel and four other people died when a fire truck and pickup collided and exploded into flames
A line-of-duty death can occur in any department; here’s how to make sure you’re following the correct rules and training protocol
The U.S. Fire Administration’s classifying a Hep. C victim as a LODD 14 years after the incident is a step in the right direction for firefighter health and safety
If there are questions surrounding the death, line-of-duty-death honors should be put on hold until accurate information is examined
Fifty-six deaths, which is the largest share of deaths last year, occurred while firefighters were operating on the fireground
Donovan Garcia Jr., 52, was participating in a wildland fire training when he collapsed
Bob Meyer, 54, was running in and out of the building when he collapsed on the street
The defense says the state has not shown evidence that he meant to kill anyone in the fire
The truck driver was sentenced to four years in prison for hitting a fire vehicle, killing one firefighter and injuring others
27-year veteran Robert Fogle became ill while training on the maze with SCBA